DUI Attorney Job Description
DUI stands for Driving Under the Influence and this can stand for drugs or alcohol. If you are arrested for this offense and you cannot pass an exam test, which is called a field sobriety test, and you fail a breathalyzer, you will most likely be arrested. The breathalyzer test shows how much alcohol is in your bloodstream and if it exceeds the legal limit, it is considered a DUI. When this happens, you will need to contact a DUI attorney. This professional will represent people who have been accused of drinking alcohol that results in you exceeding the limits established by state law when driving a vehicle. They will be the ones handling all aspects of your case.
When you first meet with your DUI attorney, they will explain all the possible scenarios if you are convicted of DUI, which may include:
• Rate
• Slim
• Time in prison
• Driver’s license revoked or suspended up to twelve months or suspension for life if they have committed repeat offenses
• A specified number of hours of community service.
• Court-ordered alcohol rehabilitation if you have many convictions.
The setting can be one or more of these possibilities. If you are an experienced DUI attorney, they will challenge arrest. They will try to convince the Court to reduce the sentence or lower the charges. Many times the attorney will dispute whether the police officer was within his constitutional rights to stop his client’s vehicle. The lawyer may also question whether the tests performed were accurate. The DUI attorney will make sure his client understands what is happening, what will happen in the following months, and will clear up any legal issues. The attorney can give his client details about what sentence they can expect if this is their first DUI charge or if this is just one of many DUI arrests.
When they go to court, there are usually several hearings. It will begin with a hearing in the Department of Motor Vehicles and the last hearing in state or county court. The attorney will attend each hearing and defend his client.
It can be overwhelming to choose a good DUI attorney, especially if this is your first offense. You can look up one on the internet or in the phone book, but the best way is to ask someone you know who has been in this same situation. When trying to decide which DUI attorney to hire, consider their experience and fees because some charge by the hour while others charge a flat fee. In some cases, if you cannot afford a lawyer, you can get help from a public defender.